<p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh undertook a sortie in the P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy during his visit to Mumbai, a Navy Spokesperson said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The defence minister undertook the sortie on Tuesday hours after he launched two frontline warships of the Indian Navy at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.</p>.<p>"Witnessed Naval Air Ops onboard the P8I, ably conducted by young and dynamic men & women. Having experienced Long Range Maritime Surveillance &ASW capabilities firsthand, I am certain that our maritime interests are in safe hands of a Combat Ready, Credible & Cohesive #IndianNavy," Singh tweeted on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said the flight crew for the sortie comprised two pilots and seven naval air operations officers including three women officers.</p>.<p>During the mission, long-range surveillance, electronic warfare, imagery intelligence, anti-submarine warfare missions and search and rescue capabilities employing the state-of-the-art mission suite and sensors were demonstrated, he said.</p>.<p>The P-8I aircraft with its superior maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and operational readiness has proven to be an important asset to the Navy.</p>.<p>Commander Madhwal said the induction of P8I aircraft commencing 2013, significantly enhanced the Indian Navy's "persistent surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)."</p>.<p>The P-8I aircraft is powered by twin jet engines and can be equipped with air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes.</p>.<p>The Indian Navy was the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft, which is produced by US aerospace major Boeing.</p>.<p>The aircraft is also operated by the US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force.</p>
<p>Defence Minister Rajnath Singh undertook a sortie in the P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Indian Navy during his visit to Mumbai, a Navy Spokesperson said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>The defence minister undertook the sortie on Tuesday hours after he launched two frontline warships of the Indian Navy at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai.</p>.<p>"Witnessed Naval Air Ops onboard the P8I, ably conducted by young and dynamic men & women. Having experienced Long Range Maritime Surveillance &ASW capabilities firsthand, I am certain that our maritime interests are in safe hands of a Combat Ready, Credible & Cohesive #IndianNavy," Singh tweeted on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Indian Navy Spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said the flight crew for the sortie comprised two pilots and seven naval air operations officers including three women officers.</p>.<p>During the mission, long-range surveillance, electronic warfare, imagery intelligence, anti-submarine warfare missions and search and rescue capabilities employing the state-of-the-art mission suite and sensors were demonstrated, he said.</p>.<p>The P-8I aircraft with its superior maritime surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and operational readiness has proven to be an important asset to the Navy.</p>.<p>Commander Madhwal said the induction of P8I aircraft commencing 2013, significantly enhanced the Indian Navy's "persistent surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)."</p>.<p>The P-8I aircraft is powered by twin jet engines and can be equipped with air-to-ship missiles and torpedoes.</p>.<p>The Indian Navy was the first international customer for the P-8 aircraft, which is produced by US aerospace major Boeing.</p>.<p>The aircraft is also operated by the US Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and the Royal Norwegian Air Force.</p>